Packages for twine, rope, and the like



Sept. 16, 1952 H. EPSTEIN PACKAGE FOR TWINE, ROPE, AND THE LIKE Filed 001'. l, 1949 6210 52am, I N V N TOR.

14 Wot/ME) Patented Sept. 13, 1952 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGES FOR TWINE, ROPE,

AND THE LIKE Henry Epstein, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of onethird to Mandel E. Epstein and one-third to Morton M. Epstein, both of New York, N. Y.

Application October 1, 1949, Serial No. 119,189

The present invention relates to package constructions which may take the form of wrappers, containers and holders for wound bundles of rope, twine, cord and thread.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved package construction of the character mentioned, which serves as a holder from which its contents may be withdrawn as needed, and has provision for indicating the approximate inventory of the rope, twine or the like, which was taken from, or which is still remaining in the package.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved package construction of the nature set forth, which makes it unnecessary to wind rope I or twine on wooden reels as is a common practice, and hence effects a substantial saving and eliminates the use of reel stands.

A further object hereof is to provide a novel and improved package construction of the type described, in which no interruption in withdrawal of contents occurs due to the presence of knots in the merchandise.

Another object of this invention is to provide package constructions which are novel and improved for the purposes mentioned, cheap to manufacture, convenient in use and efiicient in carrying out the functions they are designed for.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment in-accordance with the teachings of this invention.

2 Claims. (Cl. 242-146) Fig. 2 is a section taken at lines 22 in Fig. 1.

The package here, specifically shows that it con-' tains what is commonly called a coreless tube of twine or the like. In this type of winding, which comprises concentric helixes formed of a continuous rope or twine, the unwinding is from axial center. Of course, differently wound bundles are adapted to be packaged as herein disclosed.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the package shown in Fig. l, slightly modified.

Fig. 4 is like Fig. 3, having an additional element.

Fig. 5 shows a portion of Fig. 4, magnified.

Fig. 6 is a section taken at lines 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 2, of the package as it is adapted to contain a tube of twine or the like, wound on a tubular core. The unwinding here, is from the outer layer.

In the drawings, the numeral 15 designates generally a box for a bundle of wound rope, twine or the like, as for instance of the coreless tube type. Such a bundle I6 is usually cylindrical, and hence the package I5 is likewise. The member PI of this package structure, is preferably of stifi cardboard-like, metal, plastic or other suitable sheet material. If desired, I8 may be a paper wrapper wound tight 0n bundle It, to which wrapper the member I! is glued for instance, and the bottom member l9, may or may not be included,'depending whether a dust-proof package is required. Variations in the package construction will be dictated by particular needs, uses, bundle shapes and the like, but the inclusion in the package of a stiii wall as member I1, is pre ferred, so that one or more elements hereafter explained, may be slidably mounted in the radial slot 20, for movement along said slot.

The end of the bundle, denoted by the numeral 2| in Fig. 1, is threaded through the hole 22 of the element 23. In such set-up, which isalso used in Fig. 4, the element 23 maybe an eyelet, grommet or the like, freely slidable alongthe slot 20, or the diametral slot 20. In Fig. 3, the bundie-end 2| is positionedthrough the slot 20, in which slot there is mounted for frictional sliding therealong, the element 24. Along the slots 20 and 20', the member I! has visible indicia relatingto the inventory of the package. The element 24, preferably is provided with a'pointer 24' in the lane of such indicia, and said element is maintained from turning, by either having a square shank, not shown, in contact with both edges of the slot 20', .orelse a lug- 24" extending into the slot and contacting the edges of same, for example.

Whether the bundle is a coreless tube of twine,

rope or the like, or a tube of twine as IE, it

wound. of a continuous length of twine or the like, formed in concentric contacting helixes. The coreless tube I6 is unwound from the axial line of the bundle l6 by withdrawal of the innermost helix then existing, and working to increase the void of diameter A, which diameter becomes larger as the twine is withdrawn. The tube of twine I6, is wound of a continuous length of twine, formed in concentric contacting helixes, by winding a layer of turns on the tube 26, and then succeeding layers thereon. The tube of twine I6, is unwound, by withdrawal of the outermost helix then existing and working to decrease the dimension B. These types of wound bundles are Well known.

When the bundle is wound as the coreless tube type, as in Figs. 1 through 6, the indicating ele- 3 ment '24, when included, is between the largest helix which is the outer helix, and the twine end 2|. When the bundle is wound on a tube 26 or other core, said element 24 when included as in Fig. 7, is between the axis of the core and the bundle end 2|.

In all instances where the twine or the like is threaded through the element 23, said twine is in frictional sliding fit through the hole 22, so that the cord end shall always be available at the exterior of the package and not fall interior same.

In Fig. 1, eyelet 23 will move along slot 20 while the twine is being unwound by pulling on end 2 I. Said eyelet will be moved back and forth along said slot between axial center of the'package and a point distant therefrom equal to the radius of the smallest helix. The reading on scale 25 indicated by said eyelet 23 in Fig. 1,.

furthermost from center, will indicate how much has been withdrawn or how much is still left of the bundle l6.

In Fig. 3, when the package is made, the end 2| will be at axial center and element 24 is set in contact with said twine end in the slot 20. As twine is withdrawn, it will automatically shift element 24 to the position of the innermost helix of the bundle remaining, and will show reading on the scale 25 as to the inventory of the package.

In Fig. 4, when th package is made, the end 2| is through eyelet 23 at axial center and element 24 is set in contact with the element 23. As twine is withdrawn, eyelet 23 will automatically shift element 24 to the position of the innermost helix of the bundle remaining, and pointer 24 will indicate on scale 25, the inventory of the package.

In Fig. 7, when the package is made, the end 2! is through eyelet 23 at the outermost helix of the bundle l6. Pointer element 24 is set in contact with said eyelet. As twine is withdrawn, eyelet 23 will shift the indicating element 24 automatically towards axial center of the package, and pointer 24' will show on a suitable scale, the inventory of the package. Of course, in this set up, or when ball-wound bundles to be unwound by removing their exterior windings are packaged as herein taught, the bundle I6 or the ball (not shown) must have its axis fixed in order that scale reading shall function to indicate bundle inventory. Therefor, the core 25 is secured by cementing or in other suitable manner, .to plug 21.

It may here be noted that in the set-up as shown in Fig. 3, should knots occur in the run of the twine, the edges of the slot 20'will yield due to the give in the material of the member l1, and

such knots or usual splices which are not too bulky, will pass through. Then again, the width of the slot here, may be quite more than the twine diameter. Also in this Fig. 3, if desired, the

'4 twine may pass through the hole in element 24, if it is made with a hole, and thereupon the set-up is changed to that shown in Fig. 1.

Although the slots 20 and 20 are along straight lines, they shall still be deemed radially directed, if along curved lines which are lateral of the axis of the bundle l6. That is, the lineof these slots may be in the form of an arc, of which their present line is a chord.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In an article of the character described, the combination of a bundle formed or a continuous filamentary material member, wound about an axis and having an exposed end to be pulled to unwind the bundle while the bundle is at rest, a member having an elongated slot therethrough, fixed adjacent the bundle whereby the axis of the bundle intersects said slotted member at the line of said slot; said slot extending substantially.

radially with respect to said axis, at least sub stantially from the inner to the outer turns ofsaid bundle, a first element mounted-on said slotted member in said slot for slidable movement along the slot; the said first slidable element having a hole therethrough through the slot; the exposed end of the filamentary material member,.

being positioned through said hole, and asecond element mounted on said member for slidable movement along said slot; the first element, while the filamentary material member is being drawn through said hole, will change its position along said slot and in its travel along said slot, will come into contact with and shift the second-element along the slot, whereby the position of the second element will be indicative of the inventory of the bundle.

2. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,076,870 Dahl Oct. 28, 1913 1,353,528 Gaeng Sept. 21, 1920 2,099,153 Walker Nov. 16. 1937 

